LONDON - U.S. banking tycoon Matthew Mellon is accused of hiring private detectives to hack into his estranged wife's computer files and e-mails in Britain.

The Times of London said Mellon hired the London firm Active Investigation Services to snoop into the files of his wife Tamara, who is head of the Jimmy Choo footwear empire, during their divorce.

Matthew Mellon, 43, denies one count of conspiring to cause unauthorized modification of computer material between July 1, 2004, and February 4, 2005. He is alleged to have paid thousands of dollars to obtain his ex-wife's personal e-mails, the newspaper said Wednesday.

The founders of AIS, both former police officers, also face charges.

Prosecutors said the company is also accused of bugging phone lines for other clients.